They manage to restore memory in animal models

Lithium, a mineral naturally produced in the brain, protects against neurodegeneration and maintains the normal function of key brain cells. A recent study suggests that the loss of this element could be one of the first changes that lead to Alzheimer's.

The research, published in the journal "Nature," is the result of 10 years of work and is based on experiments with mice, analysis of human brain tissue, and blood samples from people at different stages of cognitive health. The article also describes a lithium compound that can restore memory in animal models, reports EFE.

Although the findings are preliminary and cannot be directly extrapolated to humans, the authors indicate that they should be verified through clinical trials.

The results, obtained by scientists at Harvard Medical School in the United States, unify decades of clinical observations and propose a new theory about the origins of Alzheimer's, as well as a strategy for early diagnosis, prevention, and treatment.

Alzheimer's, which affects approximately 400 million people worldwide, has been linked to various brain abnormalities, such as accumulations of the beta-amyloid protein, neurofibrillary tangles of the tau protein, and the loss of the protective protein REST. However, none of these fully explains the progression of the disease, as some people present with these abnormalities without cognitive impairment.

The most recent treatments, focused on targeting beta amyloid, have failed to reverse memory loss and barely slow the decline. Furthermore, genetic and environmental factors influence the risk of developing Alzheimer's, but it is still not understood why some people develop it and others do not, despite having similar factors.

According to the study's authors, lithium could be "the missing link" in this complex equation. Lithium deficiency, they point out, could be a key cause of Alzheimer's, opening up a new therapeutic approach.

One of the central discoveries is that, in the early stages of the disease, beta amyloid binds to lithium, interfering with its function in the brain. Low levels of lithium affect all major types of brain cells and cause Alzheimer's-like changes, such as memory loss.

The team identified a type of compound, lithium orotate, that prevented these effects. In mice, this compound reversed the pathology, protected brain cells, and restored memory. Unlike other lithium-containing drugs, which can be toxic, orotate was effective at doses a thousand times lower, with no adverse effects.

Researchers believe that measuring lithium levels in the brain could help detect Alzheimer's in its early stages and that compounds such as lithium orotate could offer a safe route to treatment or prevention.